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A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T |
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November 1 - 30, 2017
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MARIANNE DESON-HERSTEIN
Marianne Deson-Herstein was a long-time supporter and lover of
Lyric Opera until her death in 2015. Her Trust left a substantial
bequest to the Lyric Opera Production Endowment Fund for
designers and scenery expenses, in memory of her parents,
Samuel and Sarah Deson. To fulfill her intentions, Marianne’s
bequest is being used to cosponsor Lyric’s production of Wagner’s
Die Walküre
this opera season. Her gift will help support the
designer and scenery expenses for this new Lyric Opera production. Lyric is greatly
appreciative of Marianne’s thoughtfulness in making this very generous planned gift
to endow these essential mainstage opera production expenses.
STEFAN T. EDLIS and GAEL NEESON
Passionate patrons of the arts, Stefan Edlis and Gael
Neeson are actively involved with organizations in
Chicago, New York, and Aspen. Mr. Edlis and Ms.
Neeson have supported and subscribed to Lyric Opera
for more than 30 years. They have previously cosponsored
five mainstage operas, including last season’s
Lucia di
Lammermoor
and this season’s
Faust
. Stefan and Gael also made a leadership gift to
the Breaking New Ground Campaign. Lyric is honored to have Stefan Edlis serve on
its Board of Directors and Production Sponsorship Committee.
EXELON
The philanthropic initiatives of Exelon Corporation help generate and sustain
Chicago’s cultural stature and economic vitality. For several decades, Exelon has
generously supported the Annual Campaign, Fantasy of the Opera, Wine Auction,
and the Great Opera Fund as well as Lyric’s education and community engagement
programs. Exelon’s many cosponsorships have included
The Mikado
(2010/12),
the Renée Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky Subscriber Appreciation Concert
(2011/12),
La bohème
(2012/13),
Rusalka
(2013/14), Lyric’s second mariachi opera,
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
(2014/15), and
The Marriage of Figaro
(2015/16). Last
season, Exelon cosponsored Lyric’s production of
Carmen
. Lyric Opera is fortunate to have Exelon as
an outstanding corporate partner.
ELAINE FRANK
A member of the Lyric family since its calling card performance
of
Don Giovanni
in 1954, Elaine Frank has generously supported
Lyric’s education programs by underwriting the NEXT Student
Discount tickets since 2014. Elaine and her family named
the Elaine and Zollie Frank Rehearsal Room as part of their
major contribution toward the Building on Greatness capital
campaign. Most recently, Elaine gave generously to the Breaking New Ground
Campaign’s stage renovation project to ensure Lyric’s technology is competitive
with its sister institutions. “Opera has been a part of my life since I was a young
girl and still is as I am turning 100. I am grateful for all the wonderful memories
my involvement at Lyric has afforded me.” Lyric is grateful for the decades-long
friendship of Elaine, her family, and her late husband and former Board of Directors
member, Zollie Frank.
Julius Frankel
JULIUS FRANKEL FOUNDATION
A founding patron of Lyric Theatre (now Lyric Opera) and a Lyric
Opera Board member at the time of his death in 1982, Julius
Frankel devoted his philanthropic giving to making Chicago a
great place to live and enjoy life. The Julius Frankel Foundation
has sustained this noble legacy under the guidance and longtime
dedication of former trustees Nelson Cornelius and John Georgas
and current trustee BMOHarris Bank N.A. Lyric’s audiences have
benefited greatly from the Foundation’s major grants for general
operating support and production sponsorships. “Mr. Frankel was particularly
interested in making Chicago one of the greatest places in the world to live and
enjoy life,” Nelson Cornelius once said. “The foundation’s giving supports things
that enhance the reputation of Chicago; which, of course, Lyric Opera does.” Lyric
has named Mezzanine Box 25 in honor of Julius Frankel in grateful recognition of
the Foundation’s significant gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign.
Elizabeth Morse Genius
ELIZABETH MORSE GENIUS CHARITABLE TRUST
One of two trusts established in memory of Elizabeth Morse
Genius, daughter of 19th-century industrialist Charles Hosmer
Morse, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust is a major,
and deeply appreciated, leader among Lyric’s contributors.
Through the Trust’s support of classical fine arts, Co-Trustees
Bank of America, N.A. and James L. Alexander seek to enrich
the quality of life in Chicago, especially for youth and elderly
citizens. In recognition of the Trust’s Building on Greatness
Capital Campaign support, Lyric named the distinctive Opera House chimes and
music library in honor of Elizabeth Morse Genius. Along with its sister trust, The
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, the Genius Trust has sponsored many mainstage
productions and was most recently one of the cosponsors of last season’s company
premiere of
Les Troyens
. In addition to production sponsorship, the Trust has helped
underwrite Lyric’s ongoing efforts to diversify its various boards and preserve Lyric’s
history through support of its Archives project. Most recently, Lyric named one of its
key meeting rooms in its executive offices as the Elizabeth Morse Genius Conference
Room in order to show its grateful appreciation for the Trust’s significant gift to
the Breaking New Ground Campaign, as well
as to recognize the Trust’s commitment over
many years to helping build the company’s core
capacities and institutional infrastructure.
BRENT and KATIE GLEDHILL
Brent and Katie are proud supporters of numerous causes
in Chicago, and they have made a leadership gift to
Lyric’s Breaking New Ground Campaign. Last season,
Brent and Katie were a Diamond Record Sponsor of the
Chicago Voices
Gala Benefit Concert. Brent Gledhill is
the Global Head of Investment Banking at William Blair
& Company, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Lyric is honored
to have Brent serve on its Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Audit
Committee.
WILLIAM and ETHEL GOFEN
William and Ethel Gofen have been attending Lyric
Opera productions for more than 50 years. They are
generous donors to Lyric’s Annual Campaign, and are
cosponsoring Lyric’s new production of
Faust
this season.
They have also made a leadership gift to the Breaking
New Ground Campaign. Lyric is thrilled to have Ethel
Gofen as a member of the Board of Directors and Lyric Unlimited Committee.
HOWARD GOTTLIEB and BARBARA GREIS
Among Lyric’s most devoted subscribers and patrons,
Howard Gottlieb and Barbara Greis have generously
supported Lyric Opera through major contributions to
the Annual Campaign and the Breaking New Ground
Campaign. They have cosponsored many productions,
including this season’s production of
Rigoletto
. Mr.
Gottlieb is the retired chairman of the Glenwood Investment Corporation and an
accomplished violinist. Lyric is honored to have him serve as an active member of
Lyric’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
GRAMMA FISHER FOUNDATION
With an unparalleled record as sponsor of more than 27 new Lyric productions
since the 1960s, the Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa is a
cornerstone of Lyric’s legacy of world-class achievement in the arts. The Gramma
Fisher Foundation has made a leadership commitment to cosponsor each of the
four operas that make up Wagner’s
Ring
cycle, which began with
Das Rheingold
last
season and will continue with
Die Walküre
this season. Lyric is sincerely grateful
for the enduring friendship and leadership of Christine Hunter and other members
of the Fisher family. Lyric is fortunate to have Matthew Fisher serve on its Board
of Directors and Stephanie Fisher as an esteemed member of the Women’s Board.